All right after my previous thread http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=433395 I've decided that I need a progressive. As the title of this thread indicates, I'm now looking at what brand to go with. I've looked at Lee, RCBS, Lyman, Hornady, and Dillon. Am I missing anybody?
Currently I need decent amounts of .38 spl, 9mm, .45 ACP, and 5.56. My current shooting volume is about 2-300 rds of each caliber every week, so between 800-1k rounds per month of each.
Ideally I'd like production rates to be about 500 rounds an hour so I can do my reloading in a couple of hours every month. Obviously with 4 calibers, and one being a rifle cartridge, the time and cost of changing calibers needs to be factored in. I'd prefer to not have to mess with doing any operation off the press, basically drop a fresh fired casing into one end, and not touch it again (I know for 5.56 that may be asking a bit much).
So with all that, my ideal setup would be:
Auto indexing press with case and bullet feed. Changing out requires only changing the die head, the shell plate, and the primer size if need be and possibly tweaking the cartridge or bullet feeder. All of the change out should be accomplished without any real tools, and no need for any real adjustments.
I can live with a manual indexing press if the production rate is still high, and cartridge and bullets can be feed by hand as well.
I know this is going to be a big investment and I've decided that rather then spending on a new gun with my tax refund I'm going to get a press and what I need for it. I'd prefer to keep the initial cost under $600 (though I suppose a Dillon 1500 still is doable with my refund check...). Overall I'm probably not going to ever shoot much more then I do (unless I go pro, and then it's a whole different ball of wax) so too much press is almost as bad as not enough press.
I really appreciated everyone's time and knowledge on my other thread, and am looking forward to everyone's thoughts.
-Jenrick
Currently I need decent amounts of .38 spl, 9mm, .45 ACP, and 5.56. My current shooting volume is about 2-300 rds of each caliber every week, so between 800-1k rounds per month of each.
Ideally I'd like production rates to be about 500 rounds an hour so I can do my reloading in a couple of hours every month. Obviously with 4 calibers, and one being a rifle cartridge, the time and cost of changing calibers needs to be factored in. I'd prefer to not have to mess with doing any operation off the press, basically drop a fresh fired casing into one end, and not touch it again (I know for 5.56 that may be asking a bit much).
So with all that, my ideal setup would be:
Auto indexing press with case and bullet feed. Changing out requires only changing the die head, the shell plate, and the primer size if need be and possibly tweaking the cartridge or bullet feeder. All of the change out should be accomplished without any real tools, and no need for any real adjustments.
I can live with a manual indexing press if the production rate is still high, and cartridge and bullets can be feed by hand as well.
I know this is going to be a big investment and I've decided that rather then spending on a new gun with my tax refund I'm going to get a press and what I need for it. I'd prefer to keep the initial cost under $600 (though I suppose a Dillon 1500 still is doable with my refund check...). Overall I'm probably not going to ever shoot much more then I do (unless I go pro, and then it's a whole different ball of wax) so too much press is almost as bad as not enough press.
I really appreciated everyone's time and knowledge on my other thread, and am looking forward to everyone's thoughts.
-Jenrick